Cash plea for new Lancaster radio station

A new community radio station has begun a campaign for funding to help it launch in 2016.

Beyond Radio has set up a crowdfunding website aiming to raise £6,500.

This will get the station up and running, and keep it going for the first 12 months.

Beyond Radio is a replacement for Diversity FM, Lancaster’s former community radio station.

The station is currently broadcasting a music only service via its website in the run up to its full launch on FM. The team behind Beyond Radio includes key members of the team who developed and delivered the Diversity FM project on behalf of Lancaster YMCA until the station closed in April 2012.

Since then this group has been working to return community radio to the district.

Duncan Moore, chairman of the group behind the project said: “Each week we take a few steps further forward in our quest to bring a great local community resource back to life.

“We have a great management team and a willing group of volunteers who are itching to get behind the microphone and start to deliver the type of locally sourced programming we know our community wants.”

Beyond Radio will deliver a mix of specialist music shows and local musical talent alongside more mainstream music. It will air programmes covering local history, drama, poetry, politics, environment, wildlife, comedy, documentary and more, and support other community and voluntary groups and charities.

Mr Moore said: “Because of the way the station is run there are no salaries or shareholder bonuses to pay. The management team and other staff are all volunteers and doing this because they are passionate about what community radio can do. As a not for profit organisation any income will go to support the project and improve our service.”

The Beyond Radio crowdfunding page can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/beyond-radio-community-radio-station and pledges start at £10.